16 REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF FISHERIES. 



Attempt to hatch lake sturgeon. — With the view of obtaining some 

 authentic information regarding the feasibility of hatching sturgeon 

 in the Lake of the Woods and its tributaries in Minnesota and Canada, 

 an experimental field station was established in the spring of 1911 

 on the shore of that lake at Le Claire Point, Minn., near the mouth 

 of the Rainy River, the work being under the direction of the super- 

 intendent of the Duluth (Minn.) station. A small temporary hatch- 

 ery capable of accommodating 1,500,000 eggs was installed at a com- 

 mercial fishery, and a pound in which to retain the spawning fish 

 was constructed in the open lake in the vicinity. 



Acting upon the supposition that the most desirable specimens of 

 sturgeon for experimental work could be secured from the small 

 number of fish ascending the river early in May, a pound net was 

 set in such a manner as almost entirely to stop the ascent of stur- 

 geon through the channel on the American side, and between May 6 

 and June 14 six mature and 10 immature sturgeon were secured 

 and impounded without injury. Seven very large sturgeon which 

 had been caught in pound nets in the open lake were also held in the 

 pound from 10 to 30 days without injury. All ripe fish were care- 

 fully examined between May 15 and June 20, and while eggs varying 

 in size from barely visible specks to those nearly ripe w^ere found in 

 abundance, no ripe eggs or fully ripe milt were secured. 



Up to the close of the year the experiments had led to no tan- 

 gible results, but much valuable information had been gained regard- 

 ing the life history of the sturgeon of the Lake of the Woods. The 

 steady and constant decline of the sturgeon fisheries of the coastal 

 and inland waters of the United States indicates the eventual extinc- 

 tion of the species unless the supply is replenished, hence persistent 

 and systematic experiments with the view of artificially propagating 

 the fish will be continued at this station until it is definitely ascer- 

 tained whether or not the undertaking is feasible. 



In this work the Bureau has had the cooperation of the Minnesota 

 and Ontario commissioners of fisheries, and has been authorized 

 to extend its investigations to such points in Canadian waters as may 

 be found desirable. 



Use of salt solution. — A weak solution of sodium chlorid (1:9) in 

 water as a means of separating dead eggs from living ones during in- 

 cubation is now being successfully employed at some of the salmon 

 and lake-trout stations, and its general use in connection with the 

 propagation of the trouts and salmons is contemplated. The foreman 

 of the Yes Bay station reports that with the assistance of one man 

 10,000,000 salmon eggs were put through the solution in a day's time, 

 and estimates that with the necessary equipment two men could easily 

 remove from 100 to 150 quarts of dead eggs daily. The superin- 

 tendent of the North ville station states that use of salt solution in the 



